Booked And Busy As A Professional Model with Kiana Carroll

Summary

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Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz

Episode: Booked And Busy As A Professional Model with Kiana Carroll

Release Date: November 11, 2025
Host: Tom Schwartz
Guest: Kiana Carroll, Professional Model

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Episode Overview

This episode of Detox Retox with Tom Schwartz explores the realities, challenges, and not-so-glamorous moments of a working model’s career, told through the candid and lively experiences of Kiana Carroll. From humble beginnings and model apartments to the mental health implications of the industry and the importance of resilience, Tom and Kiana have a transparent, humor-filled conversation in Kiana’s Manhattan apartment—with plenty of real talk and memorable banter about the modeling world.

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Key Topics & Insights

Setting the Scene: Life as a Working Model

• Location & Vibes: The episode is recorded in Kiana’s Manhattan apartment during fall in New York—her favorite time in the city. There’s local color, personal context, and authentic energy.
• Industry Gender Dynamics: Modeling is one of the few industries where women out-earn men and hold more power, but, as Kiana notes, “do we always feel that way? No, but we should.” (03:26)

Kiana’s Unexpected Entry into Modeling

• Serendipitous Start: Kiana was scouted in Orlando on a frozen yogurt run with her (now ex-) boyfriend. Despite not seeing herself as model material (“I had eight spray tans, no eyebrows, awful highlights”—06:00), the photographer’s connection to another Tampa-based model made her take the leap.
• Rapid Transition: “It might have all happened within a month. Within a month or two was I signed and then I had to wait until my semester was done, and that’s when I moved [to New York].” (06:18)

Navigating Early Career Challenges

• First Job & Learning: She booked her first casting on her very first work trip to New York (08:51). Kiana admits, “My first job, I didn’t really know how to model… the photographer told me ‘Okay, can you move?’ because I was just in the same pose for so long...” (11:23)
• Castings Explained: The casting process is “essentially like an audition… you’re going in, you’re meeting with them so they can see you in person and see if they want to book you.” (08:54)
• Comparison Culture: “Comparison isn’t what got me… it was the comparison to my friends… what’s wrong with me?” (14:42)

Mental Health, Longevity & Resilience

• Rejection & Self Worth: “If you allow your self-worth to be defined by how much you’re booking, it can be very dangerous.” (14:06)
• Career Slowdowns: Kiana learned to accept slow periods as time to rest and regroup: “Now, if it’s slow, I’m like, let me actually take this time to appreciate it.” (15:48)
• Coping with Industry Pressures: Tom and Kiana discuss body image, eating disorders, and perfectionism. “Body dysmorphia is definitely almost inevitable as a model… That is to no fault of just the nature of the job.” (21:58)

Money Matters & The Reality Behind the Glamour

• Earnings Spectrum: While top jobs pay big (“we’re not talking specific numbers… but you can make a lot”—18:41), bread-and-butter e-comm jobs are Kiana’s everyday staple. Delayed payments are common, particularly in NYC: “When I’m booked and busy in LA, it feels extra great because I know I’m getting those checks a lot faster.” (30:30)
• Organizational Skills: Kiana is highly organized about tracking jobs and payments: “I keep track of every single dollar I’ve ever made, what date I worked it… not everyone is.” (32:21)

Model Apartments: The Frat Houses of Fashion

• Tight Quarters & Camaraderie: New models often live in crowded agency-run apartments: “There were times I was in a very small New York City two-bedroom apartment with seven, eight girls in there...” (26:45).
• Drama & Friendship: “The best thing that can happen is if you find a friend in the model apartment. Even the worst of times, we had each other to sometimes laugh at it.” (28:29)
• Competition: “There’s a little bit of competition, too… they come home and they’re boasting about this big job… you’re doing E-comm for Amazon for like a thousand.” (29:30)

Social Media, Image & Market Perspective

• Instagram & Booking: While agencies place importance on social media, Kiana doesn’t post much: “I wish it could just be about modeling…” (33:21)
• Industry Shift: Tom senses the industry is moving away from social media obsession—but “for someone that doesn’t have a lot of followers, that works as well as I do… it is still somewhat the case.” (33:55)
• Favorite Markets: Kiana prefers the ease and support of LA for work but finds New York more competitive: “LA is my favorite market to work in.” (34:51)
• Longevity: “What's the best market? ...subjective. But you can work in your 30s, 40s, 50s… if you do it right and you’re in the right market." (34:24)

A Day in the Life: On Set & On the Grind

• Routine:
  • Early call time (8am typical)
  • Coffee/breakfast
  • Hair and makeup—“therapy with hair and makeup for an hour while they do your hair and makeup. You tell them everything.” (37:17)
  • On-set: “it’s a lot of standing… standing all day in heels is not always fun.” (38:01)
• Coping with ‘Ugly Days’: Ice rollers, herbal teas, and acceptance: “Sometimes I’m gonna go to set and I’m not gonna look good… grateful for those retouchers on those days.” (24:11)
• Resilience: “While I’m young and I have all these opportunities, I have somewhat of a say-no-to-nothing mindset… one day I know I’m not going to be working as much as I do.” (25:05)

Advice to Aspiring Models

• Resilience & Self-Esteem:

  "Don’t take it personal when you get rejections, because everyone gets rejection. Think about the top supermodels you know—they have been rejected. Don’t take it personal… It just wasn’t a good match.” (40:37)

• Practical Wisdom:
  • Track your earnings.
  • Be organized about jobs and invoices.
  • Build supportive friendships, especially in model housing.
  • Use slow periods for rest—not panic.
  • Don’t compare yourself to others' trajectories.

Memorable Quotes & Fun Moments

• On the Model Life:

  "You can't just be good looking. You have to have a skill—you have to feel powerful in your own body and you have to know how to move." – Tom Schwartz (11:52)

• On Model Apartments:

  "No privacy. It’s the best thing that can happen if you find a friend in the model apartment… I live in a twin bed with three twin beds right next to me with other girls. The door won’t close all the way." – Kiana Carroll (28:15)

• On Standout Model Skills:

  “My first job, I didn’t really know how to model… Now I know you gotta have movement throughout the whole time.” – Kiana Carroll (11:23)

• On Self-Image & Coping:

  “Everyone’s their own harshest critic. So even when I’m feeling awful, I know to an outsider, I probably don’t look that bad.” – Kiana Carroll (25:46)

• On Friendships & Competition:

  “You are comparing it to… you’re living with someone that’s going to Spain for 20,000, it’s like, oh, I did think that was a lot. And it is. But now it’s feeling a little bit less. $19,000 less.” – Kiana Carroll (29:59)

• On Longevity:

  "You can work in your 30s, in your 40s, in your 50s… if you do it right." – Tom Schwartz (34:24)

• On Model Rituals:

  “I will… get to set with an ice roller and I'm rolling the hell out of my face.” – Kiana Carroll (24:12)

• On Humble Beginnings:

  “Every accountant, every agency I’ve ever been at is probably sick of seeing my name because I used to be so annoying. Emailing, saying, has this job paid?” – Kiana Carroll (32:21)

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Notable Segments & Timestamps

• (02:08–06:14) – Kiana describes how she was scouted and broke into modeling
• (08:06–11:52) – First casting, first job, and the learning curve of modeling
• (13:03–15:10) – The mental and emotional challenges of rejection and comparison
• (18:08–19:28) – The realities of model earnings
• (24:00–25:46) – Coping with bad days, rituals, and mindset
• (26:24–29:30) – Life in model apartments: friendships, drama, and survival tactics
• (32:49–34:51) – Social media, markets, and career longevity
• (37:05–38:55) – A typical day on set: routine and struggle
• (40:37–41:12) – Kiana’s top advice to aspiring models

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Tone & Style

The conversation is candid, witty, and supportive, with Tom and Kiana exchanging playful banter and heartfelt personal stories. The tone toggles between lighthearted confessions about model apartments and deeper reflections on self-esteem, career strategy, and resilience—all delivered in a way that feels both real and encouraging.

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Summary for New Listeners

This episode demystifies the world of professional modeling, stripping away the glamorous surface for a look at the hustle, the heartbreak, the resilience, and the strategic planning it takes to build a real career. Kiana Carroll provides wisdom for aspiring models, reassurance about normal insecurities, and refreshing honesty about what goes into being truly “booked and busy.”

Whether you’re a model, an aspiring creative, or a curious listener, Kiana’s story will inspire you to persevere, stay organized, and most importantly, not take rejection personally.

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Transcript

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[Tom Schwartz]

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[Podcast Host]

You guys, what is up? I'm in my favorite city in the world. Today on the show, my favorite person in the world. We're gonna get into what it's like to be a professional working model. I don't know if you guys can hear it, but there's a symphony of horns. Sweet symphony. One I only love in New York City. And, yeah, I'm not gonna do one of my long intros today. This was a fun one. Thank you, Kiana, for being so candid about your career, your humble beginnings, and just being an amazing human being. All right, guys, let's get into it. What is it like to be a professional model? Kiana Carroll, where are we? What are we doing?

[Kiana Carroll]

We're in Manhattan, and I am. Yeah, yeah. Okay. And we're in my apartment.

[Podcast Host]

And you're living the dream, and I'm living the dream.

[Kiana Carroll]

Are we going right now? We're going right into it.

[Podcast Host]

I know how seriously you take podcasts.

[Kiana Carroll]

I take podcasting very seriously.

[Podcast Host]

She does.

[Kiana Carroll]

But as someone that's not the host and someone that really respects this art, I know what you're supposed to do, and you're kind of supposed to give me a little bit more of an intro.

[Podcast Host]

Listen, you are one of my favorite human beings on planet Earth.

[Kiana Carroll]

Thank you.

[Podcast Host]

You've been killing the game for a long time. We're going to talk about the strange, the curious, the glamorous world of modeling.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

You are a professional model.

[Kiana Carroll]

I am. For almost seven years. Now you are.

[Podcast Host]

I got a lot of questions.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay. Do you?

[Podcast Host]

I want to know what it's like a day in the life of a professional female model.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

By the way, this is one of the few industries where men are kind of like. I don't want to say second class.

[Kiana Carroll]

Citizens, but I would.

[Podcast Host]

But no, there's the gender pay gap.

[Kiana Carroll]

I'm kidding. I'm kidding.

[Podcast Host]

The gender pay gap flips. And women make more. Not necessarily for their power, Actually for their power. Women have all the power.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Women have all the power.

[Kiana Carroll]

Well, we should. We should feel that way.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Kiana Carroll]

Well, do we always feel that way? No, but we should. And yes, this is one of the few industries, if the own, one of the few, where women do make more. And it is why I do love it.

[Podcast Host]

Well, it's kind of a paradox because it's a patriarchal structure that rewards women for performing within it.

[Kiana Carroll]

But regardless, you were benefiting more.

[Podcast Host]

Once you make it to the top of the game, there's a lot of money to be made.

[Kiana Carroll]

There is. I wouldn't say I'm at the top of the game, but I would say there is a lot of money to be made. I would say I've been way not at the top of the game. I've worked my way up to where I'm at now, and there's not always a lot of money. It starts humble.

[Podcast Host]

We're going to get into that. We want to hear your humble beginnings.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

I just want to reiterate time, place, set, setting. We are in New York City. My favorite New York City city in the world. A New York City minute. I feel like I'm in an episode of Friends. Although she doesn't get any of my friends references.

[Kiana Carroll]

Don't ever watch.

[Podcast Host]

But she is a hoot.

[Kiana Carroll]

I am a hoot.

[Podcast Host]

And she gets all of my housewives references. Name them, name them, name them, little girl. Okay, can I ask you some questions?

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah. Well, wait. Let's set the setting even a little bit better. We're in my apartment where I live with my cousin, my best friend in the whole entire world. He just did the New York City marath on. So it's been very New York City vibes. It's fall. Best season of New York City. Best time to be here.

[Podcast Host]

The most romantic city in the world.

[Kiana Carroll]

Some may say, some may claim Paris. I don't. I don't even know if I'd claim New York City to be the most romantic city in the world.

[Podcast Host]

But for me personally, it has been.

[Kiana Carroll]

It has been the last Couple days. Quite romantic.

[Podcast Host]

Wow, wow, wow.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay, let's hear some questions. Okay.

[Podcast Host]

Should we just get right into it?

[Kiana Carroll]

Let's get right into this.

[Podcast Host]

We just riff. I want to know what it takes to become a model. How do you start? How do you get an agent?

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay.

[Podcast Host]

Take us through your humble beginnings.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay. So I never thought I. Well, I never wanted to seek out modeling. I was in college in Orlando and I did not love it. I was not thriving. And I went to go get frozen yogurt with my ex boyfriend. Boyfriend at the time. And as we were leaving, as we were entering, the person who scouted me was leaving. So it was divine timing. And he scouted me and he said, you gotta be a model. He saw it in me when I wasn't looking my best. I had eight spray tans on top of each other. I had no eyebrows. I had awful highlights. And he was a photographer and he said, I'm gonna take some photos of you, some digitals, and send them to a mother agent. Then I got my mother agent, and then she connected me with a big agency and I moved to New York right when I was done with that semester.

[Podcast Host]

And this is all in a time span of how many months?

[Kiana Carroll]

It happened very quickly. I. I got scouted. I signed with my mother agent probably a week or two after. And then the first agency I was over with Shout Out, Next, Next Worldwide, immediately signed me before I even went in to meet them when I was still in Florida. And the first place I went to was New York. And this happened. I would. It might have all happened within a month. Within a month or two was I signed and then I had to wait until my semester was done, and that's when I moved.

[Podcast Host]

Did it strike a chord? Did he or she who scouted you, did they tap into something? You're like, did you ever. Did it ever cross your mind? Were you slightly embarrassed at the idea of pursuing a career as a professional model? Did it feel like, almost vain or something?

[Kiana Carroll]

No.

[Podcast Host]

No, no.

[Kiana Carroll]

Should I have said yes? No. I was never embarrassed by it. What I thought you were going to say, which I think maybe that sounds a little sketchy for some people to like a photographer to approach you and just like. Like, how are you going to trust that's legit? But what helped is there's this girl. I'm from Tampa, and there's a girl that's from Tampa who I know, who is a successful model. And when I went to his page, I saw that he worked with her. So I was like, okay, he's worked with someone I know who I know is successful. And that's what gave me the comfort to. To do that with her. I also, I had a good vibe about him. He had good energy. I knew he worked with someone I knew of that was doing well. And I was like, okay, I'll take this leap of faith.

[Podcast Host]

You're no slouch. You have a strong constitution, a lot of conviction. You got moxie and. But before you became. Before you became Kiki Kiana, the successful model who travels the world today, I want to hear about your first job, your first real job.

[Kiana Carroll]

So what are we considering real? The first time you're.

[Podcast Host]

The first time you got paid? Yes.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay. First job, actually. So my first flight out to New York. Not ever. I used to come here as a kid all the time. My dad's from New York, not New York City, but so I used to come here a lot of the time. First time I came here for work, my mother agent flew with me, bless her heart. Because after that, I don't think anyone really went on many of the scary flights with me. There was a time I was flying with her to New York and while we were on the flight, I got an email from my soon to be agents that I had hadn't even met yet that right when I landed, I was gonna go to my first casting. Right when I landed, first day I went to that first casting and I booked the job first day.

[Podcast Host]

Before we even get into that, can you just tell everybody what a casting is?

[Kiana Carroll]

What? So a casting is essentially like an audition. You sometimes it's a direct casting or a request casting that means they specifically wanted to see you. Sometimes you can really tell that was not the vibe and they didn't care to see you. But pretty much you're going in, you're meeting with them so they can see you in person and see if they want to book you.

[Podcast Host]

So you walk in, you say your name, you slate, which is the industry term. They look at your profile. Sometimes you do a walk or you just talk a little bit about yourselves.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah, every casting's different. I would say the general gist is, you know, it's going to be pretty quick. You're either going to try some of their clothes on or they're just going to take photos of you as is. You should always have a comp card with you. I do not always. I travel a lot.

[Podcast Host]

If you hear models or actors, books.

[Kiana Carroll]

Books are a little outdated. Oh, they are. I still have my first physical hard copy book from when I first Started modeling. But now what agents would say to do is bring an iPad with your book downloaded, but they really won't look at it. They've seen your book beforehand and if they like you and they haven't, then they're going to look it up after.

[Podcast Host]

See, I was never a real model. I was guess a Mactor, if you've ever watched Vanderpump Rules. But I, when I first started, Tom Sandoval gave me his old book from his Miami modeling days and I had like four pictures in there and I was always almost embarrassed to hand it over to the protect the prospective clients. But anyways, back to you. So you ended up booking this first job. How much did your first job pay?

[Kiana Carroll]

$500.

[Podcast Host]

That's how much my first job paid.

[Kiana Carroll]

Really.

[Podcast Host]

It was a print job for Asics.

[Kiana Carroll]

And asics only paid $500.

[Podcast Host]

I lied. I lied about you had to wear a sample size shoe which is nine. And I had to run all day. And I was like, yeah, I can fit into a nine. I'm an eleven and a half, almost a twelve. I ripped off my toenail and it was bleeding all day. But in my mind it may as well.

[Kiana Carroll]

That's a very model story.

[Podcast Host]

It may as well have been $1 million, that 500 because I felt like I was one step closer to pursuing my dream or as an actor. It was a stepping stone to print work.

[Kiana Carroll]

But so for me, no, that did not feel like a million dollars. But I was very excited. And that was actually, that job didn't pay me for maybe eight months. It was for this brand that was like six. It wasn't this brand, but it was like a rent the Runway vibe. So like I was modeling designer dresses thinking that was like the coolest thing ever. But for this like brand that like, yeah, you just rent dresses from. And I'll never forget, I, I mean modeling is a career for most people. You learn it from the ground up yourself through experience. You're not really going to classes for it. So my first job, I didn't really know how to model. And I'll never forget the photographer telling me like, okay, can you move? Because I literally was just in the same pose for so long and then I was like, oh. And now I look back at that and I laugh because now I know you kind of got to have movement throughout the whole time. You do.

[Podcast Host]

That's the thing. You can't just be good looking. You have to have a skill, self. You have to feel powerful in your own body and you have to know how to move?

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes. You know, I have to. You need to know how to move. You need to know how to be personable because you don't want to be with someone that's miserably on set. So if you want to get rebooked, you got to be likable. Luckily, I think I am.

[Podcast Host]

So personality is a big part of it. Obviously, you're gorgeous, but one of the most humbling experiences as an aspiring actor or model is walking into a room and seeing 30 people that look like you, if not better, so not you. But I'm saying me, for me, impossible with you. But it is a humbling experience walking into a room and seeing 20 other beautiful people also, you know, so that's.

[Kiana Carroll]

Why Fashion Week is a very troubling time for the mental health of any model, because that's when you're going to have the most castings where it's like, exactly like that. You're walking into a room. It's a long line of a bunch of beautiful girls that, yes, sometimes they are prettier than you. And you have to accept that. I would say a regular casting, day to day, there's not going to be that many other people there. But Fashion Week, oof, it's rough.

[Podcast Host]

And you really do have to have a strong constitution, like I said earlier, because you hear a lot of no's. A lot of rejection.

[Kiana Carroll]

A lot of rejection. I know it was. It is young, but I was glad I was at least 18 when I started because I have friends that started when they were like 15. I would never recommend that to anyone. You do have to have a little bit of a sense of self first because, I mean, the rejection can tear you down. Luckily, I feel like I have pretty thick skin. The rejection never really got to me. My mom always gave me credit for that.

[Podcast Host]

Shout out to your mom. Shout out to the strong constitution.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Also, let's take a moment to acknowledge you have very pleasant vocal fry.

[Kiana Carroll]

Hey, it's good. I think that's bad. No, it's great. People make fun of vocal fry. Oh, am I talking like I usually do, or do I have a podcast voice on right now?

[Podcast Host]

I got my podcast voice on.

[Kiana Carroll]

Do I have a podcast voice or am I talking like I usually sound lovely?

[Podcast Host]

I don't want to make you self conscious.

[Kiana Carroll]

Well, now I am. It's a lot. Why do I. So I'm not sensitive to the rejection of the castings, but I'm sensitive to this vocal fry comment?

[Podcast Host]

Well, I think the. I think the takeaway is if someone in the industry, especially somebody who's new, if you allow your self worth to be defined by how much you're booking, it can be very dangerous.

[Kiana Carroll]

It can. I. I guess I did do that a little bit at the beginning. When your friends are models and you're like, wow, why are they. For me, I would say my career was a little bit of a slow burn. I did book that first job, but I wasn't booking great jobs for the first couple years. I was very lucky to be working, but I had friends booking amazing jobs immediately. And I was like, why isn't that happening?

[Podcast Host]

For me, comparison culture is very real in this business.

[Kiana Carroll]

I would say the rejection isn't what got me. It was the comparison to my friends where I was like, oh, I'm happy for them, but what's wrong with me? And then I realized I'm actually really grateful everything happened the way it did for me. Because I think if I didn't have humble beginnings, I wouldn't appreciate where I'm at now so much. Some people just think when you start modeling, it's just immediately wonderful because for some people, that is the case. I'm glad I know that that wasn't my case because I'm so grateful.

[Podcast Host]

I feel like it built a strong foundation for the successful career you have today. There's a lot of highs, a lot of lows. The old Hollywood truism in modeling and acting. When you're hot, you're hot. When you're not, you're not. And yeah, it can be easy to misconstrue your. Your sense of self worth with how much money you're making, how frequently you're booking.

[Kiana Carroll]

Right. And then that's another part that's scary is there's not a lot of consistency or security in this career. So luckily for me, doing it long enough, when there's a slow period, it doesn't freak me out because I'm like, I know it always comes back around.

[Podcast Host]

So you got to think long term, not be daily results oriented.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes. But there was a time where I was. And when it was slow, I was like, oh, shit, do I have to go back to college? Like, is it over? Am I done? Am I not gonna work anymore? And I would say now, yeah. If it's slow, I'm like, let me actually take this time to appreciate it. Cause I travel a lot and it can be tiring even though I'm grateful. So when it's slow, I'm like, let me just use this time to be grateful. I can sleep a Little bit and not be on a plane.

[Podcast Host]

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[Kiana Carroll]

So it's been a while since I've had a month off, but I've of course had those. And you do go crazy. So I don't know. How do you not go crazy? You do a little bit. Like I said. Now, since it hasn't been a month, if I have a slow week, that's considered a little bit of a slow period for me.

[Podcast Host]

And I just have to stun on them like that.

[Kiana Carroll]

I'm grateful. I'm a busy girl, though.

[Podcast Host]

You are booked.

[Kiana Carroll]

I'm busy. But I would say if it's a slow week, I, like I said, I use that time to be grateful. When it gets longer than that, you do get a little stir crazy. I am someone that would benefit from having more hobbies. Unfortunately, I don't know if I have that many because I'm usually for the most part, busy. I like having fun. I like hanging out with my friends. Most of my friends, though, have a little bit more of a structured job. I live with my cousin Mikey. He goes into a job every day. So when it's slow for me. So I'm sitting at home missing him, wishing he was there to hang out with me. But I don't have the luxury of having an unemployed friend in New York City.

[Podcast Host]

When you're hot, you're hot. When you're not, you're not. So when you are hot, there is a lot of money to be made. We're not going to talk specific numbers per your request, but as a top working model, you can make six figures, many millions of dollars when you're at the top of your game, right? I think, would it be safe to say someone in your realm, I got to be careful here smiling at you. It's not uncommon to make five, $10,000 in a day.

[Kiana Carroll]

Mm.

[Podcast Host]

We're not talking numbers.

[Kiana Carroll]

We're not talking numbers.

[Podcast Host]

Just hypothetically speaking. But you can make a lot. I remember, like, even. Even us, you know, us measly male models. There was days where I remember Jax. Jax booked a Marlboro job, and it was like, $35,000 when I first moved to L. A. And I thought that was like, you just won the jackpot.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah. I mean, that is a huge amount of money.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah. But not every job is going to be like that. You're going to have some jobs that pay, like, wow, that's really exciting. The bread and butter, I would say, for most models is E. Com. That's not paying that much, but so you have. That always fall back on. That's what I know I'm always going to be busy with for the most part. But, yeah, every now and then, you get these big jobs or big money, and it's like. Yeah, for even. No matter how long you're doing it, that's always really exciting.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. When you're booked and busy, when you're on a flight to Greece to model in, like, one of the most beautiful parts of the world, you probably feel unstoppable.

[Kiana Carroll]

You do a little bit.

[Podcast Host]

But then those dry. Those dry spells, I mean, they got to me where I've considered moving back home. I was never trying to be a professional model. I just want. I was a stepping stone to get into acting.

[Kiana Carroll]

Oh, and. And Covid was rough. That's when I really was like, okay, am I going back to Florida? Am I going back to college? That was a rough time. But if I could make it through Covid, I don't have to worry that much.

[Podcast Host]

How's it. How's. How's your mental health these days? In the beginning, it was humbling, sometimes even humiliating.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Like, I feel like I could be wrong, but, like, it feels like the industry as a whole is a lot healthier than it used to be. Because I used to hear horror stories from the 90s and early 2000s from my friends. Male models. How. Yeah. About how brutal it can be. Like, in my mind, like, in the peak of the 90s supermodel era, there was a diet of, like, cigarettes and vodka sodas. Champagne, maybe. But now I feel like people eat healthier yoga, Pilates. They're more mindful. Way more detox than Retox.

[Kiana Carroll]

That is true. I like to say, work hard, play hard. So I do. I love a little bit of both. But, yes, overall, it is more Healthy. I mean, I wasn't a model back then, but I will say overall, I can tell it is healthier. I think the only time where it does still feel probably a little bit old school and even then it's better is when it's Fashion Week time. That is a time I think across the board. Anyone who's a model agent, anyone in the industry can say Fashion Week is not our favorite time of year.

[Podcast Host]

And in industry where your bankability is pretty much based on how you look and your personality to some extent your bankability, but it's like you have to be hyper aware of how you look, which can be a drag. Right.

[Kiana Carroll]

And I think you can attest to knowing I am very hyper aware of how I look.

[Podcast Host]

All but not in a neurotic way. It's. I mean, it's a byproduct of your, your industry and your career.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes, there is an explanation of why, but I would say I'm a little neurotic about it.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. Would you say just in your experience that eating disorders are not rampant? Are they rampant in your experience? Body. Body dysmorphia?

[Kiana Carroll]

I would say body dysmorphia is definitely almost inevitable. As a model eating disorders, of course they're here and there, but that's just the case, I guess, in the world. But is it a little bit more common as a model? Yes, for me, no. But body dysmorphia for sure is there. And that is to no fault of just the nature of the job. It's.

[Podcast Host]

It's nothing personal, though. It's hard not to take it personal.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah, but it's not like. It's not like there's anyone that I would blame. It's just. Yeah, it's how the industry is.

[Podcast Host]

It just listen, I'm way.

[Kiana Carroll]

It is somewhat a sport. If you are an athlete. You gotta look, you gotta be your best, you gotta be in the best shape, you gotta be blah, blah, blah, blah. And I guess, yeah, that's the case there too. So, yeah, you're putting a lot of your value in there. And it is a little tricky, the line between work and where does it stop and where does it begin? Because it is your look. So it's like I just took a week off for my birthday and that was definitely not a detox week. That was a retox week. It was very fun.

[Podcast Host]

Sounds of the cosmopolitan Las Vegas.

[Kiana Carroll]

That was a great time. But I would say, you know, during that time, did I think about how much did I think about my body? A lot? No, but Then right after, I'm straight into working, like, oh, yeah, you don't really get that much time off. Because my body is the vessel of the art. I create my job. So, yeah, you're kind of. You kind of always got to worry about that, even when you take time off.

[Podcast Host]

What do you do when your vessel is not feeling so good? Do you have, like, an ugly day ritual when you just feel off? Everyone wakes up once in a while. I don't matter who. Doesn't matter who you are and just feels, like, goofy. Sometimes. You just don't feel good in your own skin. You don't feel sexy, and you want to stay in bed and maybe cry all day and.

[Kiana Carroll]

What do you mean when you have.

[Podcast Host]

To be on set, you feel bloated? Maybe you're cramping. Do you have, like, any tips?

[Kiana Carroll]

Honestly?

[Podcast Host]

Puff deep. Blow to deep.

[Kiana Carroll]

Well, okay.

[Podcast Host]

Und press.

[Kiana Carroll]

I even literally just had you put my ice roller in the freezer. So for the face. If I wake up and I'm feeling puffy in the face, I'm usually getting to set with an ice roller and I'm rolling the hell out of my face. I'm doing that. I will. Every model apartment ever will have a box of Smooth move tea that will make me feel a lot thinner. That will help. I like very cliche, but chugging a lot of water. But then there is an element where I'm like, there's only so much you can do. Sometimes I'm gonna go to set and I'm not gonna look good. And I'm grateful for those retouchers on those days.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, like, we listen. Everyone listening right now has had days where they just feel like shit. Some days you. You're booked, and maybe you're doing a lingerie job and you have to be on set.

[Kiana Carroll]

And sometimes I'm going straight from a red eye right into set doing a lingerie job on my period.

[Podcast Host]

Do you just tough it out and whiten up lit.

[Kiana Carroll]

You have no choice.

[Podcast Host]

You have no choice.

[Kiana Carroll]

You have no choice. What am I going to do? Not go. One thing I always say while I'm in my. I don't know if I'd call it my prime. Maybe I would. While I'm young and I have all these opportunities, I have somewhat of a say no to nothing mindset. I'm. I don't want to miss out on the opportunities because one day I know they won't be here. One day I know I'm going to be older. One day I know I'm not going to be working as much as I do. So I try to say yes to every job as long as it makes sense for me and I'm not like, too burnt out. So, yeah, when you're in that situation, it sucks. But yeah, you just, you do it.

[Podcast Host]

You just tough it out.

[Kiana Carroll]

And also what I try to remember is suck it in, Suck it up and suck it in.

[Podcast Host]

That's her mantra.

[Kiana Carroll]

And I will say I try to remember. I do struggle with feeling insecure sometimes, but I do remember, even when I'm. Everyone's their own harshest critic. So even when I'm feeling awful, I know to an outsider, I probably don't look that bad.

[Podcast Host]

No, you look stunning. But like we said, you have good days and bad days.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Wait, Going back to the. Going back to humble beginnings. Something that's very fascinating. I feel like a lot of people who have never been in the industry don't know about, but when you first start out in a new city, Chicago, Miami, New York, Louisiana, if you're just getting going and you don't have a lot of money, you stay in a model apartment.

[Kiana Carroll]

I knew that's where it was going.

[Podcast Host]

Like, I remember Jack said he stayed with Channing Tatum in a model apartment in Miami. Although recently Channing Tatum said it never happened.

[Kiana Carroll]

I heard that didn't happen.

[Podcast Host]

I don't know. But then he was also like, listen, there's a lot of dudes in there. I don't know, maybe he could have been in there. But I remember Jackson Tom lived in model apartments in Miami. And what's your experience with model houses?

[Kiana Carroll]

So that is the case. Like you said, when you first start out and you don't have a lot of money, you know, you're, you're not able to get an apartment, you're not able to sign a lease, you're not able to give a security deposit, you're not able to furnish a whole place. So what agencies offer you is they will front the money for you to live in a model apartment so that you can be in that city. And since they know that's your only option, boy, do they upcharge for not the most ideal conditions. And it's just how it is. It's not, I'm not signaling out any agency. It's just how it is. There are times I was in a very small New York City two bedroom apartment with seven, eight girls in there, and I met one of my best friends actually in the model apartment. Shut up a bit. And, and there's drama. We got into our first fight in the model apartment. Our first makeup are a lot of crazy nights, a lot of emails from the agency being upset. Sometimes when they get some feedback, there is a maid that comes once a week and they do report back to the agency sometimes if they see things.

[Podcast Host]

That's like a little soap opera, my man. So the women are bringing back random men from time to time.

[Kiana Carroll]

I never did, to be fair.

[Podcast Host]

But they are making up, breaking up.

[Kiana Carroll]

And there's no bedroom that just has one bed. So when that's happening, it's right there. And sometimes you are the roommate, as I was. And they're bringing people back, they're partying, and you just want to go to bed.

[Podcast Host]

Let's just say there's minimal privacy in a model house.

[Kiana Carroll]

No privacy.

[Podcast Host]

It sounds like the best of times and the worst of times you know, over. I feel like it'd be easy to romanticize in hindsight, but when you're in the trenches and the. And it smells like shit, it's like a glamorous frat house, isn't it?

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah. I would say, luckily I'm a girl, so we did keep it a little bit cuter than probably a male model apartment. And we did not have a co ed one. Luckily I've never been in one, so we probably keep it a little cuter. It's the best thing that can happen is if you find a friend in the model apartment. That's why I'm very lucky for Babette, because even the worst of times, we had each other to sometimes laugh at it. It's just like, this is life. I live in a twin bed with three twin beds right next to me with other girls. The door won't close all the way. We're very close. It does get the friendship very close very fast.

[Podcast Host]

Exactly.

[Kiana Carroll]

And that was the first. The second girl I ever lived with in a model apartment back in 2018. 2019. Pre covered. I know it was pre covered. Yeah, Maybe six years ago. Yeah. First or second girl I ever lived with. And we hit it off immediately.

[Podcast Host]

There's a camaraderie. Right. There's a. There's a. There's a companionship, but there's a sense of camaraderie. And there's a little bit of competition, too.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes, there is.

[Podcast Host]

Did you feel like you were like you? They come home and they're boasting about this big job they just booked in in Spain and it pays 20 grand and you're over there twiddling your thumbs.

[Kiana Carroll]

You're like doing E Com for Amazon for like a thousand.

[Podcast Host]

Which are great jobs.

[Kiana Carroll]

Which are. Which are absolutely great jobs. But when you're putting that in comparison to what you just did.

[Podcast Host]

Well, another thing is. First, first of all, anyone listening make $1,000 in a day. You're doing pretty good.

[Kiana Carroll]

Oh, absolutely.

[Podcast Host]

Amazing.

[Kiana Carroll]

That's amazing. I'm so saying. You are comparing it to. Yeah, if you're living with someone that's going to Spain for 20,000, it's like, oh, I did think that was a lot. And it is. But now it's feeling a little bit less. $19,000 less.

[Podcast Host]

Well, for me, someone who kind of got the scraps. Another thing is you say, say you make a couple grand in a day, you're feeling high, you feel great, it was fun, you're pampered on set, great food, good vibes. However, sometimes in the industry, you really have to chase down checks. I might not get paid that $2,000 for two months.

[Kiana Carroll]

Oh, oh, have I been there? And when you're first starting out, you are trying to keep track of every dollar you made because you need it. And when they don't pay, it's like, my God. I will say LA is a lot better at paying fast because there's harsher laws around that. So starting in New York, I am bi coastal now, so I work in both. And when I'm. When I'm booked and busy in la, it feels extra great because I know I'm getting those checks a lot faster. Faster in New York. Yeah, it will take some time. It will take some time. For sure.

[Podcast Host]

It does.

[Kiana Carroll]

But when it. But when it does hit, it feels great. Because sometimes you go weeks and you're like, oh, okay, so these jobs aren't paying. And then eventually, and I got so lucky, my birthday weekend was one of those times where I was like, damn, a whole bunch of jobs I was waiting for for a long time. I'll hit it once. And you do feel like you hit the jackpot. No matter how long it's been, it feels great every time.

[Podcast Host]

But it's shaky ground when things aren't going well.

[Kiana Carroll]

It is scary when you're in debt. You're in debt to your model, to your agency, for the model apartment rent. You don't really have a lot of money or your own. Yes, it's shaky, it's scary, it's unsettling. But when you get to where I'm at, I'm kidding. But yeah, when you get to a certain point, yeah, it's not as scary. But yeah, you are chasing down those Checks. I always said every accountant, every agency I've ever been at is probably sick of seeing my name because I used to be so annoying. Emailing, saying, has this job paid? Has this job paid? I am very, very, very organized about that. I keep track of every single dollar I've ever made, what date I worked it, I check off as soon as I got paid. I keep track of how long that client takes to pay. I'm very on top of everything, which a lot of agents give me credit for because not everyone is. I'm very strict on if I went overtime, oh, I will be charged. I will be charging them over time. I'm very, very, very. I don't play about my money. I can't. I pay two rents.

[Podcast Host]

She's got her mind on her money and her money on her mind. No money, mo problems, no money, more problems. But I wanted to take you a second to give you props because it's also a hyper competitive industry. There's a lot of good looking people out there. Hey, you have an exceptional beauty, clearly. But it is stiff competition. There's a lot of hot models and not a lot of jobs. Is that safe? Safe to say. And also, how important in this day and age is your social media following?

[Kiana Carroll]

I knew that was coming. It's. Unfortunately, it's more important than I'd like it to be because I am not great at social media. So everyone go follow me. I'm kidding. I'm not great at social media. That's a comment I will get from my agents. I would say in la it's a little bit more important.

[Podcast Host]

I love that about you though. You're not chronically online.

[Kiana Carroll]

No, I know all the references, but I'm not posting a lot and I should be friends. I don't know those.

[Podcast Host]

She is a hoot.

[Kiana Carroll]

I don't know what that means, but I know I'm a hoot.

[Podcast Host]

Phoebe Vibes.

[Kiana Carroll]

Phoebe Vibes. Podcast Vibes. What were we saying? Yes, social media is important. I get reminded of that. I don't know, it's scary. Sometimes I feel a little bit. I don't know, it's scary. I just like, I wish it could just be about modeling, which for someone that doesn't have a lot of followers, that works as well as I do. That does mean that that is still somewhat the case.

[Podcast Host]

I think there's a little bit of a shift I'm sensing where, yes, it's great if you have a big following and strong engagement, but I think there's also. It feels like there's a premium on anonymity lately or just maybe.

[Kiana Carroll]

So should I not be doing this?

[Podcast Host]

Yeah. This is a questionable decision on your behalf, but am I right or. Because I remember there was a moment like. Like, right as I stopped doing it, where there was a huge premium on your social media and followers in like 20, 15, 16, 17, 18. And I don't know, it feels a little different now from what I hear from my friends who are in the industry.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah. Like I said, I don't have a big social media presence and I work a lot, so that is the case somewhat.

[Podcast Host]

What about longevity? You can work in your 30s, in your 40s and your 50s.

[Kiana Carroll]

I am not as young as you guys say, but I do appreciate everyone thinks that because that means I do have a lot of longevity.

[Podcast Host]

But you can work, you know, if you do it right and you're in the right market. What's the best market right now, in your opinion? Okay, not the best because it's subjective. Depending on subjective.

[Kiana Carroll]

It's different for everyone.

[Podcast Host]

What's your favorite market?

[Kiana Carroll]

My favorite market, I would say I feel a little bit more at ease with everything in la. New York is a little bit more competitive. Like we said, New York does take a little bit longer to pay you, Louisiana is a little bit faster. Also, I do say, I mean, New York has just amazing, beautiful, top of the top models. So, yeah, I feel a little bit bit more. A little bit more confident in la, work wise, personality wise. Maybe I feel more confident here because I got my cousin. But, yeah, I would say LA is my favorite market to work in. Okay. We're taking photos of me. I'm not very. I'm not very photogenic, but I'm not on set. Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

I always think of you as a New York.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes.

[Podcast Host]

Woman, Whatever that means. You just. I don't know something about it.

[Kiana Carroll]

I do think. I do think I have. I thought I had New York energy until you're bringing up my vocal fry. Isn't that an LA thing?

[Podcast Host]

Love the vocal fry.

[Kiana Carroll]

Isn't that an LA thing?

[Podcast Host]

No, it's a podcast.

[Kiana Carroll]

Do I have a vocal fry?

[Podcast Host]

Everybody's got a podcast.

[Kiana Carroll]

Do I have a. Everyone's got a podcast these days. Oh, but does everyone have a podcast voice? Do I.

[Podcast Host]

No, you have a lovely podcast voice.

[Kiana Carroll]

You're saying I have one.

[Podcast Host]

You do. It's great. Oh, and honestly, wait, no, I want.

[Kiana Carroll]

To talk like myself. No, I'm not talking like myself.

[Podcast Host]

I'm so grateful for you opening up about your career and your experience thus far.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

And I wanted to give you a shout out for all your success because I know you worked your ass off. An overnight sensation 10 years in the making, as they say.

[Kiana Carroll]

So they say. I call it a slow burn.

[Podcast Host]

I don't know, I heard it somewhere.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yes, thank you. I am proud of myself too. Any model out there, you should be proud of yourself. Because although we are very lucky, it's not as easy as everyone says.

[Podcast Host]

It's not as glamorous as you might think it is. Although being on set is one of the great simple pleasures in life. You get there, they do your makeup, you have people touching you, you get to wear fabulous.

[Kiana Carroll]

Is that one of the greatest pleasures?

[Podcast Host]

I like being caressed in the morning.

[Kiana Carroll]

I do too.

[Podcast Host]

I love having my.

[Kiana Carroll]

Any stylist that knows me well, I love getting a little head scratch.

[Podcast Host]

Can we do a little mini day on set just like, like one minute long? So you wake up usually your call times early AF. Right.

[Kiana Carroll]

I would say most common call times 8am which for me is early AF. I am not a morning person.

[Podcast Host]

So you get to set fashionably late. They do.

[Kiana Carroll]

I do, unfortunately.

[Podcast Host]

Do your makeup first.

[Kiana Carroll]

My favorite clients are the ones that let you have a little bit of a nice slow morning. We're ordering coffee, we're eating breakfast. I love that. So you're either having that or you're straight to the makeup chair. Your favorite person on set's always going to be the hair and makeup people because you're pretty much having therapy with them for an hour while they do your hair and makeup. You tell them everything. Sometimes they tell you everything. They know many, many, many of my secrets. Yeah, you're in the hair and makeup chair for an hour and then you're straight to set. And one of the stupidest things to complain about, but it's a lot of standing.

[Podcast Host]

I know, I know because.

[Kiana Carroll]

And I know it sounds so stupid to complain about, but guys, standing all day in heels, it's not always fun.

[Podcast Host]

It's hard. And I've worked some of the shittiest back breaking blue collar jobs you can imagine. I've essentially dug ditches. I've. But there's days I've been.

[Kiana Carroll]

What?

[Podcast Host]

Listen, we don't need to get into that. Just take my word for it.

[Kiana Carroll]

Okay? Okay.

[Podcast Host]

I have done back breaking jobs.

[Kiana Carroll]

I believe it. I believe it.

[Podcast Host]

In my catering days, like we would do 12 hour shifts when session was in at the Capitol and stuff. And like I never was as tired as I was when I'm just like standing around. I know this sounds ridiculous. I know, but it's. Something about it is draining in a very particular way.

[Kiana Carroll]

You know what I will say? My cousin, like we just said, did the New York City Marathon. And even he says, I'd rather be like moving. Like just standing for so long sucks your knees hurt. I won't lie. It's stupid to complain about. I'm very grateful, but it is hard. I sometimes would rather be moving. Going for a walk. You're not thinking about it as much. And I'm a girl wearing heels.

[Podcast Host]

Listen. One of the. One of the worst experiences I had, which I was always so grateful. Shout out to envy models in Las Vegas. They would hire us to come pass champagne out at the high end stores. And it was an eight hour shift and I never experienced such a unique pain as holding a glass of 12 glasses holding a tray full of 12 glasses of champagne for eight hours straight.

[Kiana Carroll]

I did not ever do that.

[Podcast Host]

I know.

[Kiana Carroll]

I took.

[Podcast Host]

Listen, I took what I could get.

[Kiana Carroll]

I said say no to nothing. I just. I haven't had to say yes to that.

[Podcast Host]

I ate a lot of scraps, but they kept me alive. They got me to the point where I'm at today.

[Kiana Carroll]

And we're grateful.

[Podcast Host]

We're grateful. And this has been a nice chat.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah. Are we saying anymore? How long have we been going, Keanu?

[Podcast Host]

What grinds your gears?

[Kiana Carroll]

Gum chewing. Did you think I was gonna say that? Yeah, that was random. Yeah. Something about me. I do not like gum chewing. You guys, this is a strict no gum in the house household.

[Podcast Host]

I ate a crouton this morning and got crucified for it. She stopped what she was doing.

[Kiana Carroll]

It shook the apartment. It was lo loud. It is allowed too.

[Podcast Host]

Could feel your eyes searing.

[Kiana Carroll]

Anyone who knows me knows this is something I struggle with. Misophonia, we call it.

[Podcast Host]

Do you still love New York?

[Kiana Carroll]

Do I still love New York? I think most people can say it's a love hate relationship.

[Podcast Host]

I romanticize the hell out of it. And all my friends are like, you haven't lived here.

[Kiana Carroll]

But I was gonna say. I was gonna say, most people will agree with this. New York is a way better place to visit than la. But LA is a better place to. To live.

[Podcast Host]

What would you say to an aspiring model who's just coming into the industry? They're young, maybe they're 18. They're just getting started. They're naive. They don't know anything about it. Any tips?

[Kiana Carroll]

Don't take it personal when you get rejections, because everyone gets rejection. Think about the top supermodels you know, they have been rejected. Don't take it personal. What I always say is, it's nothing against you. You just weren't right for that job. You know, it's like. It takes you to tango. Like, it just. It wasn't a match. It wasn't. You're the problem. It just wasn't a good match. Things will always come around.

[Podcast Host]

Can you guys hear the horns? I love it.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah, we're. We're having the windows open right now. We're on the 39th floor and you can still hear the sounds of New York City.

[Podcast Host]

I unfortunately have to go back to LA today, but we're gonna go get brunch.

[Kiana Carroll]

We're gonna get brunch for my cousin. Cousin's birthday, which is at midnight. We're gonna enjoy it.

[Podcast Host]

Very excited.

[Kiana Carroll]

By the way, are we gonna have a boozy brunch, or did we already do that yesterday? We can't do it twice.

[Podcast Host]

We did a detox this morning. I think we did.

[Kiana Carroll]

We had a green juice.

[Podcast Host]

We had a green juice.

[Kiana Carroll]

Sometimes that's all you need, a green juice.

[Podcast Host]

All right, we. Before we go, what's the best Housewives franchise?

[Kiana Carroll]

Salt Lake City. Wow. Or early days. Roni, did you.

[Podcast Host]

I love the episode about Mary and her fart. That's like.

[Kiana Carroll]

I love every episode that has to, like, focus on Mary. Mary is my favorite housewife, maybe.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Kiana Carroll]

I love her.

[Podcast Host]

She's iconic.

[Kiana Carroll]

Mikey's favorite's Meredith.

[Podcast Host]

Housewives. Salt Lake City on a prolific run.

[Kiana Carroll]

They are wonderful. I recommend it to anyone. There's no one there. You couldn't have scripted a better show, especially season whatever, for me to happen. I know. I'm saying you couldn't have scripted about, like. You couldn't have even, like, created that. It's so perfect. Some people probably say that about Vanderpump.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah.

[Kiana Carroll]

You couldn't have. Even if you tried to script it, you couldn't have created such magic.

[Podcast Host]

It was a once in a lifetime lightning in a bottle scenario.

[Kiana Carroll]

And listen, I like when people say lightning in a bottle. I think you've said that.

[Podcast Host]

Yeah, I did. And I also. People, for, like, the first five seasons, a lot of people thought it was, like, soft scripted, which is, like, where they don't tell you what to say verbatim, but they tell you ideas and they help sort of contrive stories.

[Kiana Carroll]

Was it.

[Podcast Host]

They've never had to do that ever.

[Kiana Carroll]

On the record. They've never done that.

[Podcast Host]

We were all friends before the show started. Unfortunately, we're not as. As close as when the show ended.

[Kiana Carroll]

You have me and Mikey. Now we do. And Rachel. And Rachel.

[Podcast Host]

And I'm still friends with everybody. Yeah, but.

[Kiana Carroll]

But things change. We have new friends.

[Podcast Host]

People change. If I can change and you can change and anybody can change. She doesn't get my references.

[Kiana Carroll]

I just don't, Rocky. I just don't.

[Podcast Host]

Okay, well, this has been enlightening. A Day in the life. As a professional, did they even get.

[Kiana Carroll]

A Day in the Life? Yeah, I feel like I kind of went on some tangents there.

[Podcast Host]

Well, we can do it. Before we wrap up. We can do a quick day in the life. It's like you wake up kind of.

[Kiana Carroll]

Guess I did already say it. Wake up. I said I got my makeup done, and I hate standing.

[Podcast Host]

You wake up, you look hot, and then you go back to sleep.

[Kiana Carroll]

No, no, no, no, no, Guys, don't let that be your takeaway, okay? All right.

[Podcast Host]

No, no. It can be grueling. And you really do have to be tenacious, man. You gotta.

[Kiana Carroll]

You do. Oh, one last thing I'll say is, I give credit to so many models that had to come from another country to come to New York City. It's a very intimidating city. I was lucky to come visit here a lot growing up, so it wasn't as intimidating to me. LA was maybe a little bit more so. But I've had to travel to different countries all by myself, be there by myself, and that is a different level of scary. So any of the models who do that come into New York City, and they're from a different country, from anywhere. I give every model credit, but that's. That's scary. I remember my first time having to travel to a different country by myself. And my dad begged me to let him come, and I was like, no, I got this. I can do it myself. And I did.

[Podcast Host]

Well, you are very cosmopolitan. Very worldly.

[Kiana Carroll]

Very worldly.

[Podcast Host]

Very charming.

[Kiana Carroll]

Wise beyond my years.

[Podcast Host]

Wise beyond your years. Kiana, Carol, thank you for enlightening us, giving us a little glimpse into what it's like to be a model.

[Kiana Carroll]

You're welcome.

[Podcast Host]

Well, thank you, Kiana.

[Kiana Carroll]

You're welcome. Thanks for having me. Hope everyone enjoyed my vlog. Local Fry.

[Podcast Host]

Now we're gonna go get brunch, and I'm gonna make her watch some episodes of Friends.

[Kiana Carroll]

Yeah.

[Podcast Host]

Thank you, guys.

[Kiana Carroll]

Thank you, guys.

[Podcast Host]

You are a hoot.

[Kiana Carroll]

I am a hoot. I don't know the reference, but I know I'm a hoot.

[Podcast Host]

Thanks, guys.

[Tom Schwartz]

Retoxification complete.

[Podcast Host]

Extra value meals are back. That means 10 tender, juicy McNuggets and medium fries and a drink are just $8 only at McDonald's for a limited time only. Prices and participation may vary. Prices may be higher in Hawaii, Alaska and Calif. California and for delivery.